Student Special Feature: Involvement in the Trinity Pipes 

Annika Dyczkowski ’25

Contributing Writer

Established in 1938, the Trinity Pipes is Trinity College’s oldest a cappella group—in addition to being the oldest co-ed a cappella group nationally. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Anne Levia ‘24, a member of The Trinity Pipes, to discuss the group and her experience as a member.  

Prior to joining the Pipes, Levia found her passion for singing early on. “Singing has always been a huge part of my life. I do it for fun. I sing everywhere,” she said. In kindergarten, she was introduced to the spotlight when she was asked to sing at a school event for students and their families. Growing up, Levia lived in Singapore for a brief period of time, so she auditioned for and was a member of the Singapore Symphony Choir. She mentions that she also had various singing lessons for a short time, and while she was a student at the Ontario Hockey Academy (OHA), she made an Instagram account dedicated to singing. Teachers and students at OHA eventually discovered the account; shortly after, she was asked to sing the national anthem in front of her peers at a school event.  

Levia joined the Pipes her freshman fall in 2020 after auditioning in a Zoom meeting. She had the option to audition for other a cappella groups on campus such as the Trinitones or the Quirks; however, she said the Pipes were her first choice. When I asked Levia why she was interested in auditioning for only the Pipes, she gave many reasons, “I was extremely drawn to the prestige [of the group], and they’re super nice, super fun, and we work really hard.” She also says that singing for her is a relaxing escape from the stress of academics, “It’s a getaway.”  

In the fall of 2020, Covid cases were at an all-time high, so Levia’s introduction to the a cappella group was a vastly different experience than introductions in the club’s past. As previously mentioned, her introduction to the group was virtual, though when they were allowed to meet as a group as long as masks were worn during their meetings. Levia says it was difficult to adjust, but the group continued to practice three to four times a week. Since the mask mandate was lifted after spring break, the Pipes’ meetings no longer required masks, “We all felt comfortable, and we were able to sing without our masks on which was nice.”  

As a two-year member, I asked Levia if she recalls a special or favorite performance. She answered, “They’re all really fun, but I have a solo tomorrow [April 22] which is gonna be really exciting and most likely my favorite concert. I think it’ll be my favorite performance because I get to do my first solo for a song with the group, and I’ve been working really hard.” I had the pleasure of attending the group’s Earth Day Concert that Levia anticipated, and the atmosphere was enlivened by the combined efforts of The Trinity Pipes and The Trinity Quirks. The groups were fascinating to watch and both performances demonstrated their hard work. Levia’s solo was the Pipes’ last song, and she sang “Counting Stars” by OneRepublic. Her voice absolutely lit up the room, and the echo from the walls of the Chapel was the perfect touch. I plan on attending many more of the group’s concerts, and I am excited to see her excel and grow as a member of the Pipes.  

The Trinity Pipes’ next performance is on May 4th, and Levia encourages all members of the Trinity community to attend. If students are interested in joining the Pipes, they can reach out to the group via Instagram (@thetrinitypipes) or attend the Welcome Back Performance in the fall semester. Levia says that each a cappella group is a very welcoming environment and interested students always have the opportunity to audition, “If you enjoy singing, it really doesn’t get much better than this.”